Description
A moist, comforting banana cake studded with raisins and crunchy nuts, perfect for using up overripe bananas. It’s simple to mix, bakes beautifully, and delivers both texture and flavorful banana sweetness.
Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1¼ – 1½ cups)
- 1½ cups all‑purpose flour
- ¾ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain yogurt (for moisture)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sliced almonds or chopped nuts (optional)
- ¼ cup raisins (or dried fruit of choice)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease an 8‑inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl, mash the bananas and then stir in brown sugar, egg, oil, sour cream (or yogurt), and vanilla until smooth.
- Fold the dry ingredients gently into the wet mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Stir in the nuts and raisins (or your chosen mix‑ins).
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (with a few moist crumbs is okay).
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully.
- Slice and serve as is, or top with your favorite frosting, glaze, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Notes
- You can replace raisins with chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
- Swap sliced almonds for walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts for different texture.
- Use Greek yogurt or buttermilk instead of sour cream to lighten texture.
- Do not overmix once flour is added — overmixing can lead to a denser cake. (Many banana cake recipes emphasize gentle mixing.) :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Check for doneness early (after ~45 minutes) as ovens vary.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg, or stir in a tablespoon of orange or lemon zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45–55 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Classic
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cake)
- Calories: ≈ 260 (estimate)
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
